Electronegative plasma motor

Abstract

A plasma motor for extracting a positive ion flow has a single ionization stage and a device for supplying the ionization stage with an ionizable electronegative gas. The plasma motor further has a device for creating an electric field so as to produce the ionization of the gas in the ionization stage. The device for creating the electric filed includes a device for extracting a negative ion flow and, a device for extracting a positive ion flow, connected to the ionization stage. The extraction of a positive ion flow and the extraction of a negative ion flow are of the same amplitude, ensuring the electrical neutrality of the motor. The extraction of a positive ion flow and the extraction of a negative ion flow allow the neutrality of the motor to be ensured.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A plasma motor for extracting a positive ion flow, said plasma motor comprising:
 a single ionization stage configured to generate eleotrons by an ionizable electronegative gas introduced into the ionization stage; 
 a filtering stage connected to the ionization stale; and 
 an extraction stage connected to the filtering stage and including (i) a first device for extracting a negative on flow, wherein the first device is positively polarized to accelerate a negative ion flow, and (ii) a second device for extracting a positive ion flow, wherein the second device is negatively polarized to accelerate the positive ion flow, 
 wherein the positive ion flow and the negative ion flow have a same amplitude thereby ensuring an electrical neutrality of the motor; and 
 the filtering stage comprises a third device for filtering the electrons, which are freed in the ionization stage, during ionization of the electronegative gas. 
 
     
     
       2. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the extraction stage for extracting the negative and positive ion flows comprises at least one polarized grid. 
     
     
       3. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filtering stage comprises two conductor elements paced at ends of the ionization stage to apply a voltage to said ionization stage. 
     
     
       4. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the filtering stage comprises a coil powered by a radiofrequency current. 
     
     
       5. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein filtering stage comprises a helicon antenna powered by a radiofrequency current (RF). 
     
     
       6. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronegative gas is diiodine. 
     
     
       7. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the electronegative gas is oxygen. 
     
     
       8. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the third device is configured to create an alternating field generating a pulsed plasma allowing simultaneous extraction of ion flows in absence of an electric field and filtering of the electrons. 
     
     
       9. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the third device is configured to generate a static magnetic field within the ionization stage so as to filter the electrons. 
     
     
       10. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 9 , further comprising permanent magnets placed at a periphery of the ionization stage to create the magnetic field within said ionization stage. 
     
     
       11. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the first device and the second device are configured to extract the negative and positive ion flows in a direction perpendicuiar to a direction of the magnetic field applied at the ionization stage. 
     
     
       12. The plasma motor as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the ionization stage is configured in cylinder, at least one peripheral extraction stage mounted on said cylinder and equipped on a surface with positively and negatively polarized grids.